What's happened
Fighting has intensified in Yemen's Hadramout and Mahra provinces, with Saudi-led coalition forces conducting airstrikes against the Southern Transitional Council (STC). The UAE has withdrawn its forces, accusing the STC of undermining the government, while the STC refuses to retreat, escalating regional tensions.
What's behind the headline?
The recent escalation reflects deepening rifts within the Saudi-led coalition and regional power struggles. The Saudi coalition's airstrikes aim to assert control and prevent chaos, but they risk further destabilizing the region. The UAE's withdrawal signals a strategic recalibration, possibly to avoid direct conflict with Saudi Arabia or due to internal disagreements over Yemen policy. The STC's defiance underscores the fragility of the current ceasefire efforts and the potential for prolonged conflict. This escalation could lead to a broader regional confrontation, with implications for international diplomacy and security. The situation remains volatile, and the next few weeks will determine whether de-escalation or further conflict prevails.
What the papers say
AP News reports that the Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes in Hadramout, claiming to target weapons and prevent chaos, while the STC refused to withdraw from seized territories. Al Jazeera highlights the UAE's withdrawal from Yemen, accusing the STC of undermining the government and supporting separatist ambitions. Both sources emphasize the regional power struggle, with AP focusing on military actions and Al Jazeera on diplomatic fallout. The contrasting narratives reveal underlying tensions: AP portrays the coalition's actions as necessary security measures, whereas Al Jazeera underscores the UAE's strategic withdrawal and accusations, illustrating the complex regional dynamics at play.
How we got here
Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war since 2014, with the Houthis controlling the north and a Saudi-UAE-backed coalition supporting the government in the south. The STC, a separatist group, seeks independence for southern Yemen and has expanded its military operations, leading to increased clashes and regional tensions. The UAE's recent withdrawal and accusations against the STC mark a significant shift in the conflict dynamics.
Go deeper
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Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a country at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is the second-largest Arab sovereign state in the peninsula, occupying 527,970 square kilometres.
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The Southern Transitional Council is a secessionist organization in Yemen. The 26 members of the STC include the governors of five southern governorates and two government ministers.